Hi Mel, I keep checking for news but you must not have been near a computer for a while! It will not be long before you are home. We are well and had a quiet Christmas with Craig, Jenni and her family at Kamarooka. The mare you rode has foaled and the little foal is gorgeous and I think they have called it Skye. I am not sure what we are doing for New Year but at present we have our house turned upside down sanding and resurfacing the upstaris floors. It is a mess and I have to school myself each day to relax and know it will come right!! Enjoy your final few days and we are looking forward to catching up with you. Take care. Lee-Ann

Hi Mel, Just a short note to say we are thoroughly enjoying your journal entries. Have a wonderful Christmas and we are also looking forward to your return. I am sure you have so much to tell us all about the fabulous experiences you have had. The boys are still having trouble with different software that will not allow them to upload their blog but hopefully this next week whilest at kevin's brother's place they can get things through. he is a bit of a computer teckkies as well. Take care and enjoy the tail end of the holdiay as much as you did the beginning. Lots of love Lee-Ann

Hey Mel, Wow it sounds like you are having an amazing time. What an experience. I just finished reading all your journal entries. I've been very slack but will be no longer. Have a very merry christmas! Looking foward to seeing you when you get home. These holidays have been very eventful for me. I got myself a job at Tatt's so I am learning my bar skills very quickly. It is a fun job and the pay is really good. Also, I have very exciting news about next year. I am moving to France. I have got a job as an Au Pair with a family in Bordeaux. They sound like lovely people, I have been emailing and talking to them on the phone quite a bit. I will be looking after their 3 sons, aged 10, 5 and 2 1/2. The girl who I am taking over from said that the children and the parents are lovely people. I fly out on the on the 13 of February and I expect to be there for the whole year, returning in February 2008. I'm very excited and also a little nervous. It was a big decison to make, because I have had to defer uni for a year. I do think though, that I have made the right decision and can't wait to experience life in France. The maximum temperature there today is -2!! Freezing! I will get a white christmas next year. I am looking foward to it a lot. That is about all the news I have at the moment. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip. It sounds like you are making the most of every opportunity and having a great time doing so. Merry Christmas!! Byebyes, Mel

Hi Melody, I have sent one message but it doesnt look like you have received it so I will try again. Your journals are a great read. Tracey and Nick are also ready them while they are home and are having a few giggles! Again we wish you a very merry Christmas. Best wishes to father Thomas. Enjoy the rest of your stay. Have a safe trip home. Look forward to seeing you sometime in the New year. Love all at Clunes. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I will try and put a message in this time! You having trouble getting to a machine to uplaod. Daryna dn Jaryd as well- nothing new for a week. They are well and having an amazing time. With my brother at present- caddying for him and a friend at Elstree ? golf course today. Daryn awed by Westminister! Hope you are still having fun. Have a wonderful Christmas and see you soon.

Hi Mel, I just wanted to say hi! I miss having you here! So much is happening, but I won't go into that now because I'm sure we'll catch up when you get back. I'm glad to hear you're having such a great time and I'm really enjoying all your posts - learning about all the different cultures has been facinating. I'm still getting over how they may break a dead person's legs to put them in a carriage for their funnerel! Anyway, just wanted to say hope all is going well and I can't wait to talk to you when you get back! Keep enjoying yourself and keep us posted Love lots - Chantal

Well, I have just spoken to you and also brought myself up to date with all your diary entries. You have certainly experienced some wonderful things, Melody. I am quite envious of you. I have been so busy for the last week. Ivan and Chelsea arrived last Saturday for one night. So I did my usual springclean before the visitors arrive. Their visit was a successful and happy one for all. I collected the twins' bags just the day before the day they arrived. They had their names embroidered on them as was planned and I hung them on the Christmas tree as they were and wrapped their other gifts up. The twins never made much comment about the bags but the parents were delighted.We bought Ivan and Chelsea a wine bottle opener to be fitted onto the wall in their bar. We bought it at the French shop at Cabarlah. It was a really handsome piece! They seemed to be very happy with it also. I finally got the report cards finished last Friday and handed to the principal at 11:55 am 08 12 06. She seemed happy with them and said that the parents would be happy to be receiving such lovely reports about their children. Well most of them anyway. One particular lad has decided to seek greener pastures next year at Our Lady of Lourdes. I wish him well. I wish them well also. Our neighbour two doors up is the principal. We had the school concert last night at Highfields Cultural Centre. Alex came out and enjoyed the gripping entertainment. I spent the entire night on crowd control except for the time my class was performing. Gee the kids were a handful when they were not actually performing. I was really needing a drink by the end of the evening. So much so in fact that we called in at the Highfields Tavern for a chardonay or two before heaading home and finishing off with a port and a bowl of lychees. What a day! Today was breakup day so back to Highfields again to the swimming pool. I wonder what we would do if Highfields hadn't been discovered? Alex is out having a rehearsal with Egbert tonight for a Christmas performance at St Lukes on Sunday evening. Apparently he needed more singers so he called Alex for support. Rosanne and Shannon arrived today by train and are staying with mum tonight. Rosanne and Dad's friend, Teddy Warner, passed away last week and is being buried tomorrow. Rosanne is attending the funeral. That turned out to be good timing for Rosanne. Well tomorrow is the final day at school. It is clean up day and we have lunch together and share the Secret Santa gifts. I think I will make it! I wanted to get this letter written to you in case you get to the internet cafe tomorrow. Always think of how much I love you. You know that you are my confidante and that I depend on you so much in so many ways. And I am not just speaking about my technological shortcomings which you help me with so much. It is all the other important aspects of my life you play such an important part in. In fact Melody you are everything to me. So make the most of every opportunity and have as much fun as you can. I love hearing about all your adventures. Will speak to you again soon. your loving mum. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

hi Mel- thanks for the postcard from Singapore. You are really going to have some stories to exchange with Daryn when he gets back! They are about to begin a new chapter in their travels this week- they have had a great time with our families- I cried laughing so much at their adventure to the wildcoast. It is wild! Missing you all heaps. Lee-Ann

Hey Mel, been reading your adventures ... very jealous! Sure beats sitting here at work!

G,day .Been reading your epistles.
That 'niece of Thomas' must be one of the loveliest of people.
There's no such thing as too many when it comes to such good
folk.
Anneli and I went shopping this evening.Bought some presents for
the twins and Heidi. Also an oversized bright red hat with silver trim
and MERRY CHRISTMAS in big white letters on the hatband.
Should be quite noticeable on the way to work each day. You've
always got to inject a dose of cheeriness into the season.
The school reports are well under way, so that will be a big relief
for Anneli.
Les and I are off to Kingaroy on Saturday morning. We will be up
before the sparrows as we have to get up there,do a few jobs,
and be back in Toowoomba to greet Ivan ,Chels & Co by midday.
Thanks for the cheery letters,
Love and best wishes,
Alex